A tender jaw and difficulty opening and closing your mouth are among the most common symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. But there are also surprising side effects of TMJ disorders ...

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge-like bone that connects your jaw and your skull. You can feel it moving by pressing your index fingers to your cheeks and opening and closing your mouth.

The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced. This story first appeared in Healthy You - January 2025, The Gazette’s quarterly health publication.

A tight jaw can result from stress, anxiety, inflammation, or injury. Overexerting the jaw, such as by chewing too much, can also cause muscle tightness. Treatment can depend on the cause. Preventive ...